Game Balls: Two In A Row

By Daniel Marcus | Dec 10, 2012 | 8:43PM

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The Jets went into Jacksonville yesterday and made a bad team look like - well - a bad team and won consecutive games for the first time this season. Embattled quarterback, Mark Sanchez, was asked by the coaching staff simply not to screw it up as the running game and defense carried the team to victory. In addition, let me preface this by saying that I have no delusions of grandeur but the Jets did receive a great deal of help from the AFC North yesterday in keeping their once-remote playoff chances alive. That said, let's save the scoreboard watching for the next three weeks and get right to this victory Monday tradition:

Muhammad Wilkerson:

"Beast Mo" as some of my fellow TJB writers affectionately refer to him, is living up to that nickname and continues to play like a man possessed. Wilkerson has just been dominating at the point of attack, making opposing offensive linemen look as though they are on roller skates. The stats don't tell the whole story with "Big Mo" because although his final stat line read: three tackles, three QB hits, and one sack, he could have easily had a couple more sacks. I could not be more impressed with Wilkerson this season and just hope that his presence continues to rub off on his old buddy Quinton Coples.

Quinton Coples:

The aforementioned Coples had one of his better games as a Jet yesterday as the coaching staff finally put him in better pass-rushing situations, using him on stunts with Wilkerson as opposed to simply bull-rushing and occupying blocks. "Q" finished with two tackles, two QB hits, and his third sack of the year and made many Jets fans wonder what the pass-rushing tandem of Coples and Wilkerson will do in games, weeks, and seasons to come.

David Harris:

This may have been the first "Game Ball-Worthy" performance the "Hit Man" has registered but he was all over the field yesterday, racking up 10 tackles, a pass defensed and two bone-crushing QB hits including a sack. Inside Linebacker in a 3-4 is one of the less glamorous positions, leading many to wonder why Harris is paid so much relative to his on-field contributions but look no further than yesterday's game to see why he was pegged as being one of the core members of this team.

Antonio Cromartie:

Since the one they call "Revis Christ" went down with a devastating injury in week 3, Cromartie has been nothing short of fantastic and has proved that he is a dominant, shut-down corner in his own right. Cro was no more spectacular against the Jags than he has been since stepping in for Revis but I felt the need to give him a game ball in recognition of how outstanding he has played and for his contributions in all three phases of the game. I'm still waiting for him to hit a home run on offense in the "Cro Package" but in the interim here's a Game Ball.

Shonn Greene/Bilal Powell:

For the second straight week, the Jets two-headed running attack will have to share a Game Ball the way they share carries as both were almost equally effective. Greene had another characteristic performance, trudging through with his head down en route to picking up some hard-earned yards, racking up 77 yards on 20 carries and a touchdown. "Boom Powell" as I will be calling from now on, has been running with a full head of steam the past few weeks and yesterday was no different as he totaled 78 yards on 19 carries, good enough for a 4.1 YPC average. It seems as though Powell is the more explosive runner of the two and when he's in those drives tend to be more fruitful. Regardless, it was nice to see a real commitment to running the ball.

Brandon Moore and the Offensive Line:

Brandon Moore gets lead billing on this Game Ball because he is habitually the most over-looked and under-appreciated member of this unit and he reportedly lit a fire under the entire offense in the locker room after an abysmal first half. The line came out in the second half and as Nick Mangold would say "kept swinging that ax" until the proverbial tree fell and the Jets running game was able to assert their will on the lowly Jaguars. I only have one complaint and that is the continued rotation at Left Guard but we'll get to that soon.

Take A Lap!:

Whoever Instituted the Left Guard Rotation:

I can't explain how frustrating it is seeing Vlad Ducasse in the game every third series, it's the same feeling as seeing Tebow in the game disrupting the flow of the offense. Slauson is obviously the better player, even Offensive Line Coach Dave DeGuglielmo will tell you that, but apparently the mandate is coming down from above. The bottom line is that Ducasse may just not be good enough to take over the spot full-time and if that's the case then leave him on the bench and leave Slauson in the game. There isn't a unit on the field where continuity and cohesion is more important than the offensive line so don't mess with it and TAKE A LAP!

Jeremy Kerley:

It's a sad state of affairs when I have to put the team's best and most reliable receiver on this list but he put the ball on the ground again yesterday, ruining a drive that appeared to be pretty promising. Although the gaffe didn't translate into points for the Jags, this team turns the ball over enough already. We don't need the receivers fumbling balls when completing passes is already a difficult proposition. Better teams will capitalize on those opportunities so Jeremy Kerley count your blessings and take a lap.

The Punt Team:

I can't for the life of me understand how a Mike Westhoff-coached unit could screw up with such frequency but somehow they manage. It may seem silly to penalize a unit for mistakes that were almost made but the margin but which they escaped from making them was so thin that it deserves to be talked about. On two separate occasions, the Jaguars came within fingertip-length of blocking Robert Malone punts, which would have proved catastrophic. The Jets can ill-afford any more special teams breakdowns if they expect to somehow run the table but something tells me there will be at least one more colossal screw-up before the season is over.

FNNY presented by Jeep: Common for NFL players to not remember games?

12:20AM

The FNNY panel touches on the report that Brandon Marshall told the Daily News he doesn't remember scoring three touchdowns in a 2014 game.

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GEICO SportsNite: Jets place Nick Mangold on season-ending IR

12:06AM

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GEICO SportsNite: Mangold to IR00:01:25

Willie Colon comments on Nick Mangold's career after the Jets placed him on injured reserve.

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Wilkerson says 'tighter coverage' would have led to more sacks

Dec 8 | 7:30PM

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New York Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson (96) celebrates a sack with teammates during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan) (Peter Morgan/AP)

Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson responded "maybe a little tighter coverage and we get those sacks" when asked why New York was held to one sack in their 41-10 loss to the Colts Monday.

Fitzpatrick to serve as backup QB behind Petty

Dec 6 | 4:55PM

QB Ryan Fitzpatrick will serve as New York's backup quarterback for the remainder of the season, while rookie QB Christian Hackenberg will not play unless starting QB Bryce Petty suffers an injury, head coach Todd Bowles told reporters on Tuesday.

Bowles named Petty the starting quarterback following Monday night's embarrassing 41-10 loss to the Colts, relegating Fitzpatrick to the backup role.

When asked if the rookie quarterback would see any playing time this season, Bowles was quick to say only an injury would lead to Hackenberg taking the field.

TJB Post Game Podcast: Bryce Petty and the Heartbreakers

Dec 6 | 3:59PM

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The Jets are free fallin, while Corey Griffin and Brian Bassett have their green hearts broken and are at a loss for answers. But they do find your voicemails…and talk about Bryce Petty, Todd Bowles, an uncertain future, and a nifty play by the pylon.

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Jets waive C.J. Spiller and Jeremy Ross

Dec 6 | 3:10PM

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New York Jets receiver Jeremy Ross (10) returns a kick-off against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. (Charles LeClaire)

New York also announced the signing of WR Darius Jennings to the practice squad, who will take the place of WR Mario Alford, who has been released.

Spiller signed with the Jets on Nov. 2 after playing two games for Seattle. Spiller appeared in four games with the Jets, returning five kickoffs for an average of 19.1 yards per return, along with recording three rushes and one reception on offense.

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BGA: Insight and analysis from Week 13

By Bent | Dec 6 | 12:15PM

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(Ed Mulholland)

The Jets were crushed by the Colts, 41-10, on Monday night at MetLife Stadium as they fell to 3-9 on the season. Bryce Petty replaced Ryan Fitzpatrick during the game and will be the starter for the remainder of the season. Here's insight and analysis regarding the Jets' awful Monday night performance...

Quarterbacks

Ryan Fitzpatrick's performance speaks for itself. He only completed one pass beyond the first down marker, had a completion percentage below 50 percent, and punctuated his performance with an interception on the kind of forced throw he's been unable to get away with all season.

Bowles names Petty starting quarterback for remainder of season

Dec 6 | 12:08AM

New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles named Bryce Petty the starting quarterback for the remainder of the season, barring injury, after he replaced Ryan Fitzpatrick midway through Monday's 41-10 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

Bowles said he planned to name Petty the team's starting quarterback for the rest of the year regardless of what happened Monday, adding that Fitzpatrick's ineffectiveness -- 5-for-12, 81 yards, no touchdowns and one interception -- in the loss to the Colts did not factor into the decision.

Petty completed 11 of 25 passes for 135 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions as he replaced Fitzpatrick for the second half, entering a 31-3 game.

Dec 5 | 11:46PM

Andrew Luck was nearly perfect in his return from a concussion, throwing for four touchdowns, three to Dwayne Allen, in the Indianapolis Colts' 41-10 romp Monday night past the inept New York Jets.

Not that Luck had to work very hard against the hosts, who were booed by a much-less-than-filled MetLife Stadium almost from the outset.

Luck missed last week's loss to Pittsburgh, cleared the NFL's concussion protocol on the weekend, and came back in style with a prime-time performance. He lifted Indianapolis (6-6) into a tie for the lead in the AFC South with Tennessee and Houston.

A witness said an argument took place between McKnight and the shooter before the shooter opened fire multiple times.

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What did you think about the Jets' game?

Dec 5 | 11:15PM

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We want to hear from you! What did you think of today's Jets game?

Record a reaction or question about the game, which may be used during TheJetsBlog Post Game Podcast, call 1 (831) 769-6387 or use this to record a message (please remember to leave your name and city):

New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles benched starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick in favor of backup Bryce Petty for the second half of Monday's game against the Indianapolis Colts at MetLife Stadium.

Fitzpatrick completed 5 of 12 passes for 81 yards with an interception and a 30.2 passer rating as the Jets trailed 24-3 at halftime.

Petty is making his first game appearance since Week 10, a 9-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in which he went 19-for-32 with 163 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Jets honor Joe McKnight with pregame moment of silence

Dec 6 | 7:16AM

New York Jets running back Joe McKnight walks back to the locker room following practice at SUNY Cortland. (Rich Barnes-US PRESSWIRE)

The New York Jets have held a moment of silence before their game against the Indianapolis Colts at MetLife Stadium to honor former running back Joe McKnight, killed last Thursday in Louisiana.

Authorities said McKnight, 28, was shot during a road rage incident that was possibly sparked by a driver cutting off another on a nearby bridge in Terrytown, across the Mississippi River from New Orleans. The shooter was identified by police as Ronald Gasser, 54, and he was released overnight, drawing criticism.

McKnight was rated the nation's No. 1 running back recruit when he came out of Louisiana in 2006 and signed with the University of Southern California. He was a fourth-round draft pick of the Jets in 2010 and played three seasons for New York. He spent a season with Kansas City, and most recently played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League.

Petty started against the Rams in Week 10 when Ryan Fitzpatrick was out with an injury, and completed 19 of 32 passes for 163 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. It was the first, and so far the only, start of his career.

While some have questioned why Todd Bowles has not given the young quarterback more opportunities to prove himself, many believe it is because Petty has simply not shown enough during practice to earn the starting job.

During the season, Bent's Game Analysis charts games for some of the New York Jets' upcoming opponents, enabling a breakdown of what to watch out for on game day…

This week's Monday Night Football will see the Jets hosting the 5-6 Indianapolis Colts. Despite having endured a disappointing year so far, the Colts were just one game out of first place in the AFC South entering this weekend. The Colts have lost three of their last four games, albeit to three potential playoff teams in Green Bay, Kansas City and Pittsburgh. The teams met early last year with the Jets defeating the Colts 20-7, again on Monday Night Football, in one of the best performances of the Todd Bowles and Mike Maccagnan era.

TheJetsBlog Podcast: Are the Jets Better Off Today?

Dec 4 | 11:54AM

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Brian Bassett welcomes Brian Costello of the New York Post to the podcast, and they take a deep dive into the question of whether or not the Jets are better off today than the day when Woody Johnson flipped the switch from the John Idzik/Rex Ryan regime, to the current Mike Maccagnan/Todd Bowles duo. Later, SNY NFL Insider Ralph Vacchiano joins the show to talk about his Thursday conversation with Darrelle Revis at Florham Park, and to share his thoughts on Revis' future with the Jets.

Jets future up in the air for Revis, who wants to play in 2017

Darrelle Revis has made it pretty clear that he intends to play in 2017, telling SNY "I still have a lot of football to play." He even thinks he can still play football at a high level.

But at what position? And for whom? Neither of those answers are clear just yet. And though it's certainly possible that the Jets will simply part ways with the greatest cornerback they've ever had, a team source insisted not to rule Revis out of the Jets' 2017 plans just yet.

TJB Roundtable: Looking on the bright side

Maybe it is just me, but it seems like the Faustian bargain made by Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Jets on the eve of training camp signaled the end. Since then the trajectory of this team has been steadily downward: horrifying play at QB, the season-ending injury to Eric Decker, the immolation of Darrelle Revis as "player who gives a damn" … it has been rough. Hell, even Muhammad Wilkerson's reputation looks to be streaking down the Alpine Slide at Action Park!

But since we're Jets fans, we are notorious gluttons for punishment. So rather than dwell on all the bad stuff … what causes for hope do you have from what you've seen this season, Bent?

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Gailey tries to evaluate Petty, Hackenberg despite lack of game time

Dec 2 | 8:06AM

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New York Jets quarterback Bryce Petty throws the ball during warmups before a game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. (Scott Galvin/USA Today Sports Images)

New York Jets offensive coordinator Chan Gailey said young quarterbacks Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg need to get all the reps they can get to continue to develop.

Though the Jets have decided to turn back to Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback for the foreseeable future, Gailey said Petty "needs all of the work he can get," according to NJ.com's Connor Hughes.

"It helps to play in games. ... The probability in games, you've got a lot better idea of what's going to happen," Gailey said. "In practice, you only have about a 75 percent probability of how they're going to be, how they're to play, and how they're going to progress."

Petty has started just one game -- a 9-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 10 -- this season before head coach Todd Bowles opted to make Fitzpatrick, who led New York to 10 wins last season, the starter again.

Revis weighs in on retirement, possible move to safety, and more

Ralph Vacchiano reports from the Jets facility on the Darrelle Revis rumors of him possibly retiring after the 2016 season.

Darrelle Revis, the embattled Jets cornerback, insists that he has given no thought to retirement despite his age and his struggles this season, and that his love for the game of football is as strong as ever. In fact, in an interview with SNY.tv on Thursday, he said any questions about how much he still wants to play are "really bizarre."

That was the 31-year-old Revis' response to the latest round of criticism in what has become a miserable season for the future Hall of Famer. He has struggled on the field in a season he admits is "definitely not" up to his personal standards, and the shots he's taken in the media have been relentless at times.

The latest came in a report in the New York Daily News on Wednesday that quoted a "confidant" of the cornerback saying "If he had his way he'd be done right now. He doesn't want to play anymore."

WR Brandon Marshall wants to finish his career with the Jets, the wide receiver told reporters on Monday.

"Obviously (I have) no plans on retiring, no plans on switching teams," Marshall said. "Would love to stay here and retire as a Jet."

The Jets acquired Marshall and a seventh round draft pick from the Bears for a fifth round pick prior to the 2015 NFL Draft. In his first season with New York, Marshall caught 109 passes for 1,502 yards and 14 touchdowns.

"You never know in this business," Marshall admitted about the chances he will be back in New York next season.

TJB Post Game Podcast: Put Down By The Pats

Nov 28 | 5:30PM

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Corey Griffin and Brian Bassett deal with another inevitable loss to the Patriots, and the inevitable calls for the heads of Todd Bowles, Darrelle Revis, and Muhammad Wilkerson. They sift through another week of your voice mails, as the Jets sort through what's left of their season.